By Emma Harrison, Editor-in-Chief
Last Friday, after getting down to the normal weekly newsroom business and boxing up McWherter 337 to make room for new adventures this fall in Goins 225C, the Imaginary Gardens team celebrated a semester well spent. In the courtyard of the Hardin Valley campus, I finally got to take a second to look at what we have built this semester. Feeling uber-sentimental, I watched staff members mingle and laugh, with long hugs and sweet words of encouragement being shared as we collectively realized that this would be the last meeting for some graduating members.
The past four months at Imaginary Gardens have been a whirlwind of experiences, growth, new milestones, and, most importantly, continuously filled with friendship. To break it down for you, this semester at IG, we: Published approximately 160 stories for a grand total of 419 stories since the Imaginary Gardens reboot in 2022, we got classified as an official organization, had numerous full staff outings, and have completely turned around our HR systems, enabling our leadership team to become a highly functioning, fluid team. Overall, we have had a very transforming, fulfilling semester.
However, on a personal level, it has by no means been an easy semester. Quite frankly, this semester has been a trainwreck for me. I spent the majority of the past four months failing college algebra, making countless mistakes in my job, stressing out so hard that I got physically ill, constantly fighting the balance between giving myself time to relax while still being present in my friendships and job, and living in fear that I am not enough. But, I have also learned what it means to be a leader, how to let go of control when anxiety is taking over, when to give myself space so I can continue being fulfilled, and how to push past fear to live as my authentic self.
In my last Letter from the Editor, I discussed fulfillment, a subject that seemed to touch the hearts of many Pellissippi State Community College students and more. I received an abundance of support, ranging from Letters to the Editor to emails to shoutouts on social media. I heard from people who felt the same pressure: students who wanted to find their version of a complete and joyful life. Among the support I received, a few stood out for the way they echoed their own personal experiences.
Dear Emma Harrison,
Your article really hit home for me, because honestly, trying to find fulfillment is something almost every college student I know is struggling with (even if we don’t talk about it much). There’s so much pressure to have our futures all mapped out while also doing well in school and somehow having a life on top of that. I really appreciated how real you were about all of that confusion, and how you reminded us that it’s okay if things don’t go exactly how we planned.
One part that really stuck with me was when you talked about how school is “the only place where you are often expected to be totally, fully, completely perfect at everything you do, AND have everything figured out all at the same time.” I totally relate because it always feels like I’m juggling a million things, trying to keep my grades up, worrying about my future, staying involved on campus, and somehow still having a social life. Most of the time, I feel like I’m not doing enough in any area.
Ever since we were little, it’s like there’s always something else we’re supposed to be working towards: getting good grades, making it into college, landing internships, having friends and relationships, and eventually getting a job. Honestly, it feels impossible to have everything figured out before we even really know ourselves. Reading your article made me realize that I’m probably not the only one who feels this way, even though it sometimes seems like I am.
One thing that really stood out to me was how you described the Imaginary Gardens community. You said the team is “defined by collaboration rather than competition”, and honestly, I wish college was more like that. Most of the time, it feels like we’re all just racing for grades, internships, and opportunities, and it gets pretty exhausting trying to keep up with everyone. It’s so easy to feel like you’re always being compared to the people around you, which kind of sucks the fun out of learning or being proud of your own progress.
It’s almost impossible not to compare yourself to classmates who seem to have it all together, and that pressure just makes me question if I’m doing enough. Instead of motivating me, it honestly just makes me feel more stressed and insecure. I feel like that whole competitive vibe makes it harder to actually connect with people, because instead of cheering each other on, it sometimes feels like we’re all just fighting to get ahead.
That’s why the way you described a group that actually supports each other really stuck with me. It made me think that feeling fulfilled isn’t just about your own achievements and it’s also about being part of a community where people have each other’s backs. Honestly, having that kind of support makes tough stuff feel way less overwhelming and takes off some of the pressure to do everything by yourself. Plus, it makes it easier for people to be real about what they’re struggling with instead of pretending they’ve got it all together, which actually helps everyone grow and feel like they really belong.
Overall, your article reminded me that fulfillment isn’t something that just happens all at once or follows a perfect plan. It comes from trying new things, making mistakes, and sometimes changing direction when things don’t work out. I really appreciate how honest and open you were, because it makes all the uncertainty of this stage of life feel a little less overwhelming. It’s honestly nice to know that it’s normal to question what we want and to change our minds as we go.
-Hailee Wright, A Pellissippi State Student
Hearing about how you decided to leave the world of rowing behind in pursuit of the role as editor-in-chief for Pellissippi [State]’s Imaginary Gardens journal was a very inspiring read. I cannot imagine what a difficult choice it was to decide between these two very different paths you were so passionate about. I have also found myself at these crossroads before during a similar time in my own life at the end of high school, when I was in the school band as a percussionist.
When I was a freshman in high school, I decided I would join the school’s marching band as a way to make friends, further my love of music and playing drums, and, most importantly, fulfill my fine arts credit for the year. I ended up staying in the band, marching, and doing concerts for the entirety of high school, enjoying my time with great friends and playing the instruments I loved. Even with all the positives, it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Harsh and unforgiving band instructors, many hours of repetitive and physically strenuous practice every week, and the intense pressure to perform at your very best were all regular stresses I endured for those years in order to stay in the band.
Eventually, high school was almost over and I had to make a choice: do I want to join the band in college or try and pursue a different avenue of my life? After thinking about it for a very long time, I decided I would attend a trade school after college, studying to be a diesel mechanic.
Over the last five years I have spent working on diesel equipment and semi-trucks, much of it has indeed been very fulfilling, as I have always had a strong interest in working with my hands, as well as being able to diagnose and fix all sorts of issues. Despite this, I have found that it is not quite the path I want my life to take, which is why I am back in school and writing this letter to you now.
So, when you say “Now, I know exactly who I am; I am working, learning, and thriving in a place that fulfills me from head to toe,” it really speaks to me, as this is what I am hoping to achieve by returning to school and learning about another passion of mine. Hopefully, through this round of education, I will find what helps me be fulfilled in my life, or at least content.
I definitely relate to you saying that stepping back from rowing helped you “understand that sometimes the fulfilling risk is actually disguised as the safe choice,” for this very reason. As much as I wanted to continue with marching band, I knew that it would not lead me to fulfillment in the ways that I wanted it to, so I took the risk and chose something else that helped me move forward in my search for it.
– Trey Cooper, A Pellissippi State Student
I want to take a moment to thank these students for sharing their stories. Human connection is such a powerful thing, and it has been so surreal connecting with each of you. If there’s one thing I hope you take from all of this, it’s that you are not behind, you are not alone, and you are allowed to grow at your own pace.
I think being vulnerable often gets a bad rap in this generation. Many people want to keep unguarded emotions at bay in an attempt to control when and how they experience their feelings. The problem with letting this kind of fear control you is that not only do you deny yourself an opportunity to live the true human experience, but you strip away the connection that forms when we are honest with each other.
I was traveling in Ireland last year and, pasted on every single bottle of Jameson Whiskey in the area, there is a Latin phrase – “Sine Metu,” which means “Without Fear.” It has stuck with me in a world full of second-guessing, anxiety, and insecurity in experiencing your truth. Don’t let fear hold you back from finding fulfillment.
As this semester comes to a close and Imaginary Gardens continues to grow over the summer with our assistance at all Pellissippi State New Student Orientations, I am excited to see how these conversations evolve, how stories are shared, and how the human experience is lived. Our stories might be messy and uncertain, but they are real, and that is what makes this space meaningful. Whether you’re stepping into something new, letting go of something old, or simply trying to figure it all out day by day, I hope you continue to let go of fear and seek what truly fulfills you, even when the path is unclear.
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